South Korea, Saudi sign export deal for ‘Cheongung-ii’ missile

South Korea singed a deal to export its Cheongung-Ⅱ surface-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia worth 3.2 billion U.S. dollars. The deal was sealed last November, but in line with a bilateral agreement, the news was made public on Tuesday.
The Cheongung-Ⅱ, an upgrade of the former version, can intercept enemy aircraft and even ballistic missiles, and is dubbed “South Korea’s Patriot missile.” Its main task is defending airspace below 40 kilometers in altitude. Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration seeks to further expand the reach of K-defense by actively targeting the Middle Eastern market such as through an MOU on defense cooperation signed with Saudi Arabia.